Flying-machine.



, einem QR 1,039,625

P. n. WILLIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1911 1 ,039,625.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

P. D. WILLIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 9, 1911. 1,039,625, Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

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F. D. WILLIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIoN FILED AUG. s, 1911. Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

@511mg m UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK D. WILLIS, 0F BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

FLYING-MACHINE.

To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that I, FRANK D. WILLIS, a citizen of the United States', residing at Burlington, in the county of Chittenden and State of Vermont, have invented new and useful Improvem-ents in Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specilication.

This invention relates to flying machines of the monoplane type, and its object is to provide means for preventing a monoplane from suddenly tipping down at the forward end when an area, generally called a hole by aviators, is entered, where the pressure under the supporting surface is abruptly decreased, whereby danger of the aviator being thrown from his seat or of the machine losing its fo-re and aft balance will be avoided.

The invention consists of the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation showing the monoplane in its normal flying attitude. Fig. 2 is a similar view showing the movement of the plane when an air-hole is encountered. Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. Ll is a front elevation with the plane in the osition shown in Fig. 2. Fig. 5 is a centra vertical longitudinal section thro-ugh the machine. Fig. 6 is a vertical transverse sect-ion on line 6-6 of Fig. 5. Fig, 7 is a bottom perspective view of the plane.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the main frame of the machine, from which project the usual head 'and tail frames 2 and 3, which may be of any suitable construction. The frame structure, as a whole, is mounted upon suitable front and rea-r launching and landing wheels 1 and 5,which may be o-f any desired type and arrangement. Arranged at the front of the machine s a driving propeller 6 receiving motion from a shaft 7 driven by the motor 8. The frame portion 3 carries a desired form of stabilizing tail or plane 9 and also supports a pair of laterally horizontal rudders 10, which are adjustable by suitable means for vertical steering and lateral balancing, and a vertical rudder 11 supported upon a turn-table 12. This rudder is mounted upon the turn-table to swing laterally about a vertical rod or axis 13 stayed from the tail Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed August 9, 1911.

Patented Sept. 24, 1912.

Serial No. 643,101.

frame by a bracket 14:, and comprises a boxshaped body 15 and a rudder vane. The body 15 is composed of spaced parallel planes or surfaces 17 betwe-en which the front portion of the rudder vane 11 projects, thus providing a combined vertical rudder and stabilizer, whereby skidding of the machine is reduced. Suitably connected with and leading from the turn-table are cords or wires 18 which are connected with a suitably operating device on the main frame adjacent the aviators seat, whereby the vertical rudder may be adjusted. Other controlling devices of any known type may be employed for adjusting the horizontal rudders 10.

The supporting surface of the machine comprises a plane 19 having the fore and aft curvature of the general conventional form employed in monoplane machines, said plane being of greatest width or transverse extent at the front and tapering toward the rear end. As shown, the plane is formed of a suitable frame structure including rods or bars 20 arranged beneath the plane and carrying bearing members 21 pivotally engaging a cross bar 22 fixed to the top of the main frame 1, near the forward end thereof, such as to permit the plane to tilt or swing vertically. The rear portion of the plane, or that portion in rear of the bar 22, is bifurcated by a longitudinal slot 23, of somewhat greater width than the widt-h of the main frame, which latter is adapted to be received into the slot to permit the plane to be tilted to an angle of about 80 with relatien to said frame. The plane or supporting surface is normally uncontrolled, that is, it is adapted to tilt automatically under air pressure for the purpose hereinbefore set forth. The frontportion of the plane preponderates in weight over the rear portion thereof so that the plane is normally maintained by gravity in the position shown in Fig. 1, in which it is held by its weight against the normal air pressure thereon when the machine is in straight flight, and presents the ordinary angle of incidence to the air for supporting action. When the front end of the machine, however, strikes an air-hole and begins to tilt downward, the sudden tipping of the head frame, as well as the pressure upon the air on the under surface of the front part of the plane, causes the latter to be forced upwardly, thereby tilting the frame to the position shown in Fig. 2. In this posit-ion the plane presents a greater angle of incidence to the air, and lies in the path or zone of the air above the air-hole, whereby the supporting action of the air on the surface of the plane is maintained with the plane in the described position until the machine passes the danger point. The plane then automatically tilts back to its normal position for straight flight.

It will thus be seen that the invention provides a machine which automatically compensa-tes for the decreased support when then air-hole is encountered, by the adjustment of the plane to a position in which the air supporting action is maintained, whereby the machine is prevented from pitching downwardly and forwardly and throwing the aviator out of his seat or losing its lateral balance.

Looped cords or cables 24 are connected with the two central rods or barsI 20, in front and rear of the pivotal support, and pass intermediately over front and rear sets of guide pulleys or drums 25, and also over central pulleys or drums 26 fixed to a common shaft or axle 27. These cords or cables form an equalizing connection between the front and rear portions of the plane, whereby ease of pivotal motion is secured and the plane prevented from slamming or banging through a too abrupt motion. A hand wheel 28 is provided on the shaft 27, whereby the aviator may manually tilt the plane back to normal position, if desired, and whereby the plane may be adjusted to any desired angle of incidence in flight.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is:

1. In a flying machine, the combinationl of a main frame, a rod or shaft mounted upon and extending transversely of and beyond the sides of said frame, a supporting plane longitudinally curved between its fore and aft edges, said plane comprising frame bars, curved ribs extending longitudinally between the front and rear frame bars, a covering secured to the frame bars and ribs, and rods arranged beneath the hollow of the wing between the front and rear frame bars thereof, brackets carried by said rods and pivotally engaging the transverse rod or shaft, said brackets being arranged substantially in the camber line of the plane, said plane being continuous between its lateral margins in advance of said lines and bifurcated centrally and longitudinally in rear of said lines, an aviators seat upon the main frame below the pivotal point of the plane7 a transverse shaft journaled on the main frame and provided with drums, arranged at opposite sides thereof, front and rear pairs of guide pulleys at opposite sides of the frame in advance and in rear of said seat, cables attached to the rods of the supporting plane in advance and in rear of its pivotal point and extending around said pulleys and wound reversely about the drums, and means for operating said drum shaft.

2. In a iiying machine, a turn-table mounted upon the tail portion of the frame, a vertical rudder comprising a box-shaped body and a rudder-vane projecting between the planes of the body and extending rearwardly therefrom, and means connected vith said turn-table for adjusting said rud- In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FRANK D. WILLIS.

Witnesses:

ALBERT G. FOURNIER, EDWIN J. THOMAS.

Copie: of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

